Search

The best regional firewood trees to use in NZ

Winter is coming. Prepare to fill the fireplace with wood from the best-suited firewood trees in your neck of woods.

Growing Mexican limes in New Zealand

How to keep a lime happy, even in the cold.

Permaculture systems in your garden

Permaculture is a fancy name for all the things many of us are already doing in our orchards. Ben Gaia shares tips to get you growing more food using fewer chemicals.

Why a loquat tree might be perfect for your garden

Loquat seedlings will grow in most areas of New Zealand. The tropical fruit is delicious and the tree produces a fine hardwood.

What's better than a plum and an apricot? A pluot

Combine plums and apricots and you get the best of both fruit.

Yes, you can grow bananas in the South Island

This tropical plant is a great survivor in more places than you’d think.

The tree that attracts bees and distracts the birds in your orchard

It doesn’t bear fruit, but this little tree will vastly improve your orchard’s productivity.

How to grow guavas bursting with flavour

If you want a wonderful taste of the tropics, try this small tree.

In Your Backyard Urban Harvest: Online Extras

In Your Backyard: Urban Harvest, is a guide to growing fruit and vegetables in small gardens. We've compiled extra materials and videos here to help further your understanding of this exciting topic.

Tending to your fruit trees in March

Apple picking, branch cutting and the secret to sweet peaches. Add Ben Gaia's seven tips to March your to-do list.

Secrets to growing olives in cold weather

There’s a great way to grow olive trees even when your place gets really cold.

How to grow great raspberries

Raspberries are a great option for the lifestyle block. Ben Gaia looks at how to get the best production.

How to grow great gooseberries

The gooseberry is one of those plants which only gets better and better with age.

7 tips to growing Japanese wineberries

Don’t be afraid of trying new fruits, especially ones as delicious as this.

Grow wild strawberries

Alpine strawberries are quite easy to grow, and very hardy in marginal lands, like shady forests and snowy alpine hillsides.

6 ways to clean up sorry-looking citrus

A neglected grapefruit tree gets an organic makeover.

All about Meyer lemons PLUS lemon ice cream

Learn how to look after your citrus - and treat yourself with this yummy ice cream recipe.

Animals in your orchard

Some animals in an orchard are your friends and some are a definite no-no

At home with top company director Joan Withers

Of all the many significant achievements in her very successful business career, what does Joan Withers identify as the most important? ‘Finding the right man at 15 and then marrying him’